Hamas instructed an Israeli-Arab to carry out a terror attack that would include the murder of an IDF officer, the Shin Bet revealed today. The Palestinian terrorist group said that the terror attack would be retaliation for the elimination of senior Hamas member Mazan Faqha.

It was cleared for publication on Thursday that the Shin Bet and Israel Police arrested seven Jaljulia residents who were planning to carry out a terror attack. Indictments have been filed against four of the suspects.

One of the main suspects is Mohammad Mahmoud Abed Alkarim Daoud. By questioning him, the interrogators learned that he knew details about a terror attack that two brothers were planning. Once it was discovered that the brothers, 25-year-old Adam Ismail Muhammad Faki and 27-year-old Faras Ismail Muhammad Faki, who are both known to police, were planning a terror attack, they were arrested.

During the investigation into the brothers, it was discovered that Adam Faki visited Gaza in December 2014 in order to attend a family wedding. During his visit, he was recruited by Hamas and even took part in a training exercise.

In April 2017, Adam was asked by his half-brother, who is a Hamas member who lives in Gaza, to plan a terror attack that would include the murder of an Israeli officer in retaliation for the elimination of senior Hamas member Mazan Faqha. Adam’s half-brother told him to purchase weapons, pick a location for the attack and recruit another person in order to aid him in carrying out the murder. Adam decided to contact another Jaljulia resident, Yassin Maari, in order to purchase two weapons and silencers.

The Shin Bet stated that the case illustrates the serious danger posed by the connection between the criminal world and terrorism. The security organization also stressed that the case proves that Hamas is taking advantage of Israel’s humanitarian policy toward Gaza, which includes family visits and medical treatment in Israel for ill Palestinians, in order to advance the group’s terrorist plans.